Researchers from the Ocean Dynamics and Modeling group develop and apply a wide range of state-of-the-art numerical models to study ocean processes at different spatial and temporal scales. The spatial scales vary from small-scale studies of estuaries and coastal bays to large-scale continental shelf studies. The temporal scales vary from studies of ocean waves and tides to ocean circulation and climate change.
Research Team
Zhaoqing Yang, PhD Zhaoqing Yang is a chief scientist for coastal ocean modeling at PNNL and a Distinguished Faculty Fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington. His research covers broad areas using state-of-the-art numerical models, including marine renewable energy, coastal hydrodynamic and transport processes, and their responses to climate change and human impacts, storm surge, coastal flooding and resilience. |  |
Ruth Branch, PhD Ruth Branch is an Earth Scientist in the Coastal Sciences Division at PNNL. She has 20 years of experience in oceanographic field operations, infrared remote sensing of water, and environmental fluid mechanics. Her current work focuses on Powering the Blue Economy Arctic Observations and Critical Interference projects with wave or current energy and field measurement for the Waterborne Plastics Assessment and Collection Technologies project. |  |
Mithun Deb, PhD Mithun Deb is a postdoctoral research associate in PNNL’s Coastal Modeling group with a background in coastal engineering and ocean modeling. His areas of expertise include field and numerical study of tidal hydrodynamics and coastal wetland dynamics. He is currently working on tidal energy and turbulence with a coupled tidal-turbine modeling approach. |  |
Yicheng Huang, PhD Yicheng Huang is a postdoctoral research associate with a background in ocean modeling and coastal hydrodynamics. Yicheng is experienced in the numerical modeling of scalar transport in the coastal environment and the interactions between tidal current and surface-gravity waves. At PNNL, he is developing models of microplastic fate and transport, and tidal energy resource assessment. |  |
Kyungmin Park, PhD Kyungmin Park is a postdoctoral research associate with experience in numerical modeling of coastal processes. His previous research included work on operational forecast systems, coastal ocean dynamics, coastal flooding, and large-scale ocean circulation. Kyungmin's research at PNNL focuses on modeling for marine renewable energy, particularly resource characterization of the Gulf Stream and the potential impacts of energy extraction on Meridional Overturning Circulation. |  |
Kyle Hinson, PhD Kyle Hinson is a postdoctoral research associate with a background in marine science and ocean modeling. His previous experience includes modeling climate change impacts on biogeochemical processes within terrestrial and coastal ocean settings. His current work is focused on modeling wind energy extraction capabilities and nesting high resolution grids within global scale ocean models. |  |
Preston Spicer, PhD Preston Spicer is a postdoctoral research scientist in PNNL's Coastal Modeling Group. He has experience using field measurements and numerical modeling to study estuarine and river plume mixing as well as riverine storm surges. At PNNL, Preston is using numerical models to study the hydrodynamic impacts (tides, transport, etc.) of tidal energy extraction in the Piscataqua River estuary and the Salish Sea. |  |
Former Team Members
Taiping Wang, PhD, PE Taiping Wang is a research scientist with a deep background in oceanography. His work spans both scientific and applied research using a variety of modeling tools, focusing most recently on watershed hydrology, modeling, marine renewable energy characterization, and nutrient cycling. |  |
Fadia Ticona Rollano, MS, PE Fadia Ticona Rollano is a researcher in PNNL’s Coastal Sciences Division with a background in ocean and coastal engineering. Her work focuses on wave and ocean modeling for marine renewable energy resource characterization and storm surge analysis, as well as research into the application of marine renewable energy technologies in the blue economy. |  |
Jinliang Liu, PhD Jinliang Liu is postdoctoral research scientist with a background in physical oceanography and ocean modeling. Jinliang has experiences in model simulation of oceanic boundary layer turbulence in the upper ocean and energy transfer between sub-mesoscale and near-inertial oscillations. He is currently conducting research related to air-sea interaction for offshore wind energy and coastal hazards using numerical models. |  |
Gabriel Garcia Medina, PhD Gabriel Garcia Medina is a research scientist focusing on the dynamics of the coastal ocean. He uses numerical models for coastal hydrodynamics, wave and tidal energy resource assessment, offshore wind energy, ocean-atmosphere interactions, and studies of wave-induced runup. |  |
Ziyu (Amanda) Xiao, PhD Ziyu (Amanda) Xiao is a postdoctoral researcher with a background in coastal physical oceanography. Her research focuses on the application of numerical models to study coastal hydrodynamics, coastal hazards, sediment transport, and marine renewable energy site characterization using a coupling modeling approach. |  |
Hao Wang, PhD Hao Wang is a postdoctoral research associate in PNNL’s Coastal Modeling group with a background in estuarine biogeochemical modeling. He will conduct research related to marine renewable energy, coastal hazards, and macroalgal dynamics modeling. |  |